DP World PGTI president Kapil Dev (centre) with Essar Group chief executive Prashant Ruia (second from right), Essar Group director Suresh Sundaram, Essar MD and global head of Corporate Affairs & Public Policy Amit Bajaj (far left) and Tour CEO Amandeep Johl at the partnership announcement in Mumbai last week. Image courtesy DP World PGTI
By Rahul Banerji
Mumbai is set to host a second major professional golf tournament with the addition of the Shashi Ruia Memorial Championship to the DP World PGTI calendar in January 2027.
Scheduled soon after the Cidco Open in Navi Mumbai in December, the two tournaments will bring leading Indian professionals to the region within a month, with a combined prize purse of ₹3 crore.
The inaugural Rs 2 crore Shashi Ruia Memorial will be played at the historic Willingdon Sports Club from January 12 to 15 and will be an annual fixture on the calendar till 2031, the DP World PGTI said.
The championship honours late Shashi Ruia, who co-founded Essar with his brother Ravi and had a lifelong passion for golf.
At the launch event in Mumbai last week, his son Prashant Ruia recalled accompanying his father to golf courses and the happiness he found in the game.
The tournament will carry that personal passion forward as a lasting sporting tribute.
Special venue
Willingdon Sports Club occupies a special place in Mumbai’s golf history alongside the Bombay Presidency Golf Club and both had a role to play in shaping organised golf in India.
The CG Open at Bombay Presidency Golf Club was a prominent fixture on the DP World PGTI calendar for over a decade from 2007 onwards. The city’s golf tradition now gains fresh momentum with two major championships scheduled within weeks of each other.
The ₹1 crore CIDCO Open will be held at Kharghar Valley Golf Course in Navi Mumbai from December 15 to 18, returninng after its inaugural edition in December 2025, won by Veer Ahlawat.
While the Cidco Open extends professional golf’s reach into Navi Mumbai, the Shashi Ruia Memorial Championship brings a major new event to the heart of the city’s established golf community.
The two events are significant for Indian professional golf. With ₹3 crore in prize money, they offer more competitive opportunities, help players sustain earnings and provide a chance to improve their Tour rankings.
Creating opportunities
For emerging professionals, regular tournaments are vital to building a viable career, gaining experience against established players and progressing towards international competition.
DP World PGTI president Kapil Dev has stressed the importance of such tournaments in developing young talent. He pointed to Pranavi Urs’ Asian Games gold medal as an example of how sporting achievements can inspire new generations of golfers.
DP World PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl highlighted the golfing potential of Mumbai and the surrounding region, extending towards Lonavala and Pune.
Essar’s five-year commitment, alongside Cidco’s continued support, gives the professional circuit stronger backing and the prospect of regular high-value tournaments, the Tour said in a statement.
Also read: DP World PGTI announces tieup with corporate series BT Golf
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